Barry Ferguson has pinpointed the Rangers midfielder who holds the key to propelling Rangers’ title charge in the Scottish Premiership this season.
The former Rangers captain reckons Todd Cantwell can be Philippe Clement’s main main, despite the fact the 25-year-old has played no more than 58 minutes in a game since the beginning of January [Transfermarkt].
Cantwell was substituted at half-time against both Hibs and St Mirren recently which raised eyebrows amongst supporters and ignited discourse amongst pundits.
But Ferguson sees nothing sinister in Clement’s relationship with Cantwell and believes the Belgian sees the playmaker as one of his Rangers squad’s key assets going into the second-half of the campaign.
And while Ferguson, writing in his Daily Record column, does suggest that Cantwell should now be looking over his shoulder after the arrivals of Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes in January, the 46-year-old thinks he can be a difference-maker in the title race with Celtic.
Barry Ferguson on Todd Cantwell
Barry Ferguson said of Todd Cantwell: “At this club, standing still should never be an option. And that’s why I’m very interested to see how Todd Cantwell responds to the recent comings and goings because, as far as I’m concerned, he remains one of the most talented and gifted players in the country.
“I’ve played with a few of them in my time. I call them game changers. And Cantwell is most certainly in that bracket.
“And I’m convinced if he gets the best out himself between now and the end of the season he could hold the key to unlocking this title race and delivering the one prize Clement will want more than any other.
“Cantwell has been taken off at half time in both of Rangers’ last two games away to Hibs and St Mirren. And that’s maybe added to the suspicion that he and the manager don’t see eye to eye.
“But I genuinely don’t think that’s the case at all. In fact, I firmly believe that Clement is placing demands on Cantwell’s shoulders and Todd is the kind of player who responds positively to that kind of challenge.
“First, just look at the goal he scored at Easter Road. Yes, he may have been in and out of the first half but he stood up and grabbed it by the scruff of the neck by lashing that one home from 25 yards. That’s not only what I want to see from Todd – it’s what I expect from a player of his ability.
“Perhaps sometimes he’s been guilty of trying too hard to get himself into areas where he feels he can influence the game. But I’m not going to fault the guy for trying too hard!
“He came off at half time against Hibs because he’d taken a bit of wallop. The manager wasn’t making an example of him, he was looking after him.
“Then, at St Mirren, the same thing happened at the interval and that was probably because it simply wasn’t the kind of game that suited Cantwell’s way of playing. I’m sure Todd will understand that too.
“But, most of all, I’m confident he knows how important he will be to this team over the next few months because, if he gets back to his best on a more consistent level, then he could make all the difference to the destiny of the title.
“He’s now operating in the central role and his form has been good at times and indifferent at others. But that’s what you get from these kind of players. They can’t be the top man every single week.”
